Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA)
Lineage and Early Life:
Abdullah was the son of Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
When the Prophet died, Abdullah ibn Abbas was only thirteen years old.
Attachment to the Prophet:
When Abdullah ibn Abbas was born, his mother took him to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who put some of his saliva on his tongue and this was the start of the close relationship between Abdullah ibn Abbas and the Prophet.
As Abdullah ibn Abbas grew older, he attached himself to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, where he would run to get water for the Prophet when he wanted to make wudu.
During the prayers, he would stand behind the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and would accompany him on any journeys or expeditions.
Knowledge:
Abdullah ibn Abbas became one of the most knowledgeable companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Memory of Hadith:
It is said that Abdullah ibn Abbas memorised about 1,066 sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which are recorded and authenticated in the collection of Imam Bukhari and Muslim.
Special Dua of the Prophet:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed to Allah about Abdullah ibn Abbas, saying: O Lord, make him acquire a deep understanding of the religion of Islam and instruct him in the meaning and interpretation of things.
The Prophet prayed that Abdullah ibn Abbas would be granted knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
The Humility and Wisdom of Abdullah ibn Abbas:
Abdullah ibn Abbas once said: Once the Messenger of Allah was on the point of performing wudu. I hurried to get water ready for him. He was pleased with what I was doing as as he was about to begin Salah, he indicated that I should stand at his side. However, I stood behind him. When the Salah was finished, he turned to me and said: What prevented you from being at my side, O Abdullah?
Abdullah ibn Abbas replied: You are too illustrious and too great in my eyes for me to stand side by side with you,
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then raised his hands to the heavens and said: O Lord, grant him wisdom.
Dedication to Learning and Memorisation:
During the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Abdullah ibn Abbas would not miss any of his gatherings and would memorise exactly what the Prophet would say.
After the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ passed away, Abdullah ibn Abbas would go to as many companions as possible, to learn what the Prophet had taught them.
Whenever he found a companion who knew about a Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that he was unaware of, he would go quickly to him and record it.
Admiration for Zayd ibn Thabit:
Abdullah ibn Abbas had a high level of respect for Zayd ibn Thabit, who was one of the recorders of the revelations that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ received from Allah SWT.
Abdullah would accompany Zayd ibn Thabit on any trips that he would go on, and in his company, he would act as his servant.
Zayd ibn Thabit said about this: Don’t, O cousin of the Prophet. Abdullah ibn Abbas replied: we were commanded to treat the learned ones among us.
Zayd then said to Abdullah: let me see your hand. Abdullah ibn Abbas stretched out his hand and Zayd ibn Thabit would kiss it and say: We were commanded to treat the ahl al-bayt members of the household of the Prophet.
The ahl al-bayt means the people of the house, which refers to the family of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Abdullah ibn Abbas’ Famous Saying:
Abdullah ibn Abbas famously said: Knowledge is sought, it does not just come.
Reputation Amongst the Companions:
Masruq ibn al-Ajda’ on Abdullah ibn Abbas:
Masruq ibn al-Ajda’ said about Abdullah ibn Abbas: Whenever I saw Ibn Abbas, I would say: He is the most handsome of men. When he spoke, I would say: He is the most eloquent of men. And when he held a conversation, I would say: He is the most knowledgeable of men.
Umar ibn al-Khattab on Abdullah ibn Abbas:
Umar ibn al-Khattab would often ask for his advice on important matters and described Abdullah ibn Abbas as ‘the young man of maturity’.
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas on Abdullah ibn Abbas:
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas described him with the following words: I have never seen someone who was quicker in understanding, who had more knowledge and greater wisdom than Ibn Abbas. I have seen Umar summon him to discuss difficult problems in the presence of veterans of Badr from among the Muhajirin and Ansar. Ibn Abbas would speak and Umar would not disregard what he had to say.
Abdullah ibn Abbas – ‘The Learned Man of this Ummah’:
These qualities that Abdullah ibn Abbas possessed were the reason why he was regarded as ‘the learned man of this Ummah.’
Teaching and Learning:
Abdullah ibn Abbas felt as if he had a duty to the Muslims to educate those in search of knowledge. Because of this, he implemented teaching facilities and his house became a university for the Muslims to come and gain knowledge on the religion of Islam.
Abdullah ibn Abbas would devote one day at a time for a particular matter. For example, one day it would be the interpretation of the Quran, another day it would only be Fiqh (jurisprudence).
Abdullah ibn Abbas would also assign specific times to study and go over the campaigns that the Muslims experienced during the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
He would provide explanations on certain matters and they would be clear and precise.
Mediation During Ali ibn Abi Talib’s Caliph:
During the Caliph of Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abdullah ibn Abbas went to Ali and requested permission to speak to a group of Muslims who abandoned him, because of the conflict with Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan.
Ali ibn Abi Talib hesitated at first as he believed Abdullah ibn Abbas could be in danger. However, he eventually agreed to this suggestion.
Abdullah ibn Abbas went over to the group and asked them: Tell me, what grievances do you have against the cousin of the Prophet, the husband of his daughter and the first of those who believed in him?
Three Main Complaints:
The group provided Abdullah ibn Abbas with three main complaints against Ali ibn Abi Talib.
First Complaint – Accepting Arbitration:
The first complaint was that Ali ibn appointed men to make a judgement in matters concerning the religion of Allah.
This meant that Ali ibn Abi Talib had to accept the arbitration of Abu Musa al-Ashari and Amr ibn al-A’as in the dispute with Muawiyah.
Second Complaint – no Spoils of War or Prisoners.
The next complaint was that Ali ibn Abi Talib fought and did not take the spoils of war or the prisoners.
Third Complaint – Dropping the Title of ‘Amir al-Mu’minin’:
The final complaint they had was that Ali did not include the title of ‘Amir al-Muminin’ during the arbitration process even though the Muslims had pledged allegiance to him and he was their leader.
Addressing the Complaints:
Abdullah ibn Abbas then provided verses from the Quran and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which related to their complaints.
Addressing the Complaint about the Spoils of War/Prisoners:
Abdullah ibn Abbas said: As for your statement that Ali fought and did not take prisoners of war as the Prophet did, do you really desire to take your ‘mother’ Aisha as a captive and treat her as fair game in the way that captives are treated? If your answer is ‘Yes’, then you have fallen into kufr (disbelief). And if you say that she is not your ‘mother’, you would also have fallen into a state of disbelief for Allah has said: ‘The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves and his wives are their mothers (entitled to respect and consideration).’ (Quran, 34:6)
Abdullah ibn Abbas then asked: Have we then finished with this point? The group replied: Yes.
Addressing the Complaint about Surrendering the Title of ‘Amir al-Mu’minin’:
Abdullah ibn Abbas then continued: As for your statement that Ali has surrendered the title of Amir al-Mu’minin, (remember) that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself, at the time of Hudaybiyyah, demanded that the Quraysh write in the truce which he concluded with them: ‘This is what the Messenger of Allah has agreed…’ and they rejected. They said: ‘If we believed that you were the Messenger of Allah we would not have blocked your way to the Kabah nor would we have fought you. They said, write instead: ‘Muhammad the son of Abdullah.’
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ conceded their demand while saying: ‘By Allah, I am the Messenger of Allah even if they reject me.’
Outcome of Abdullah ibn Abbas’ Persuasion:
After this discussion, twenty thousand men returned to the army of Ali ibn Abi Talib. This was as a result of the knowledge and intellect that Abdullah ibn Abbas had shown.
Because of his knowledge of the Quran and the Seerah, he was able to provide a strong argument to defend the actions of Ali ibn Abi Talib.
Generosity and Hospitality:
Abdullah ibn Abbas was also known for his great generosity and hospitality. The companions would say about his house: We have not seen a house which has more food or drink or fruit or knowledge than the house of Abdullah ibn Abbas.
Devotion in Worship:
Abdullah ibn Abbas was constantly devoted to the religion of Islam and he would keep voluntary fasts and spend his nights in prayer.
Abdullah ibn Abbas would cry while praying and reading the Quran, especially when reciting Ayats that referred to dealing with death, resurrection and the Hereafter,
Death of Abdullah ibn Abbas:
Abdullah ibn Abbas passed away at the age of seventy one in the city of Ta’if.
Hadith Reported by Abdullah ibn Abbas:
Abdullah ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah put his hand on my shoulder and said: O Allah, give him understanding in religion and teach him the interpretation of the Quran. (Ahmad)